Version 2.0 of Symantec's Norton 360 security suite is now entering beta testing. This version will gain several security enhancements introduced with Norton Internet Security 2008 such as Norton Identity Safe, Browser Protection (called Browser Defender in NIS 2008), and home network management. Its backup and tuneup features will also be enhanced.

According to Jeff Kyle, group product manager for Norton 360, about a third of Norton 360 users are technically skilled. That's somewhat surprising, since this product is targeted at the less-technical user. The same survey showed that half of all Norton 360 users have a home network and that over a quarter take advantage of the online backup option.

Kyle stated that Norton 360 is not a suite of disparate products but rather a single integrated product that offers a variety of security features. The underlying security technology is the same as that of NIS 2008, but with an emphasis on ease of use. Usability enhancements in version 2.0 includes handy popup menus for common tasks, streamlined access to settings for advanced users, and a direct link to send feedback about the program.

The Smart Background Scheduler now avoids launching tasks when the computer is running on batteries. It kicks in after the computer has been idle for a while and throttles bandwidth as necessary to minimize impact on performance. In addition, the product is more tightly integrated with Windows.

The backup system can store backed-up data on various local and network-based devices as well as in a 2GB online storage area. For an additional $20 per year, users can add an extra 8GB of online backup; this compares favorably with Windows Live OneCare's $50 per year for 10GB of photo-specific online backup. New in version 2, Norton 360 can backup to an iPod or Blu-Ray disc and backup multiple PCs to a single network-based drive. Version 2 also offers better searching for files to be restored along with a preview feature to help identify the desired file. An overlay on file icons quickly shows whether a file is included or excluded from backup, and whether it has changed since the last backup. The user can right-click a file to quickly include or exclude it from backup.

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In version 2.0, Norton 360's tuneup feature will include a Registry cleaner and full support for cleaning up unnecessary browser files in Firefox. It can optionally shut down the computer on completion of its cleanup tasks, and will generate a diagnostic report for troubleshooting purposes.

According to Kyle, Symantec is also working on the second-string features found in the Add-On Pack. They'll be looking to improve antispam accuracy and enhance the parental control features. However, these changes won't be included in the beta test. Symantec expects to release the final product in the first quarter of 2008.

About the Author

Neil Rubenking served as vice president and president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years when the IBM PC was brand new. He was present at the formation of the Association of Shareware Professionals, and served on its board of directors. In 1986, PC Magazine brought Neil on board to handle the torrent of Turbo Pascal tips submitted b... See Full Bio

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